Excavator Hammer Attachment Apparatus

ABSTRACT

The excavator hammer attachment apparatus is adapted to be quickly attached to an excavator or skid-steer loader arm and used in easily and quickly demolishing concrete by swinging the apparatus and striking the concrete. Because the apparatus employs rubber isolators instead metal springs, such demolition is able to be accomplished with less noise and shock to the machine to which it is attached than would otherwise occur and with substantially improved operator safety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to excavator or the like attachment apparatuses, and in particular, to large scale hammer type excavator attachment apparatuses, adapted to mount to an excavator arm.

BACKGROUND

Excavators and like equipment are well known and broadly used in the excavation and construction industry. Such excavators typically have a hydraulically operated mechanical arm consisting of a boom portion, a stick or dipper arm portion, and a bucket portion (see appx A—Excavator). A sub-category of excavators is the backhoe which is also well known and broadly used in the excavation and construction industry (see appx B—Backhoe). Further, the skid-steer type loader or machine is also well known and broadly used in the excavation and construction industry (see appx C—Skid-Steer). Also, quick couplers of the type that are adapted to quickly connect and disconnect attachments to excavators and like equipment are well known and broadly used in the excavation and construction industry (see appx D—Quick Coupler). Use of such excavators and skid-steers continues to broaden beyond mere digging, with excavators taking on task previously not contemplated. An example of such broadened use is the use of the excavator arm as a quasi-wrecking ball to for instance break-up concrete structures that are to be replaced. In comparison to a wrecking ball, the dual or multi-use of the conventional excavator arm (with a bucket) as a quasi-wrecking ball is not only convenient, but has advantages in greater strike placement control, angle, and accuracy. However, the conventional excavator arm remains a blunt non-finely controlled instrument. Further, such use of the excavator arm as a quasi-wrecking ball has in certain circumstances been shown to have the disadvantages of insufficient concentrated bucket mass and consequent bucket damage. Some attempts have been made to improve demolition type attachments and related quick couplers for excavator type equipment. Such efforts include the concepts disclosed in the following US patents and applications which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,852 to Maurer entitled “Quick Coupling and Release Mechanism for Buckets”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,494 to Hanson entitled “Implement with Gripping Arm Assembly for a Backhoe”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,975 to LaBounty entitled “Rotating Hammer-Shear”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,881,867 to Essex et al. entitled “Excavator Attachment”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,641 to Kendall entitled “Backhoe Hammer”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,906,049 to Anderson entitled “Ripper Using a Hydraulic Hammer and Method for Making the Improvement”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,639 to Lindsey at al. entitled “Demolition Hammer”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,528 to Jenkins et al. entitled “Quick Coupling Arrangement for Excavator Buckets and the Like”, U.S. Pat. No. 6,332,747 to Lee entitled “Coupling Apparatus for Detachably Attaching an Excavating Device to Excavator”, U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,164 to White entitled “Hammer-Ripper Excavating System”, and 20030173095 to Boley et al. entitled “Implement for Driving Posts”.

SUMMARY

The present invention is an excavator hammer attachment apparatus (EHAA) (see for instance appx E—B. E. Hammers Website). It shall be noted that for the purposes of this application, unless specifically defined otherwise, the word excavator shall be understood to broadly include excavators, trackhoes, diggers, backhoes, rear actor, back actor, skid-steer, skid-loader, and like machines. Specifically, the EHAA preferably replaces a bucket at the non-boom end of a stick (or dipper arm) and is used in a variety of large scale hammering operations (see for instance appx F—Trackhoe Attachment). The EHAA alternatively may be attached to a skid-steer and used in a variety of large scale hammering operations (see for instance appx G—Skid-Steer Attachment). The EHAA further may be mounted or attached to via a quick coupler. The EHAA incorporates minimal moving parts to reduce cost and complexity and to increase reliability of the apparatus. Further, rather than using springs which are heavy, noisy, and are dangerous when failing catastrophically (e.g. a piece of broken spring under load may fly away from the apparatus and strike an equipment operator or other person), the EHAA incorporates rubber isolators.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a substantially trimetric view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a substantially exploded trimetric view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a substantially trimetric view of a first embodiment of the present invention with dashed lines representing movement of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a substantially trimetric view of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a substantially exploded trimetric view of a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a substantially trimetric view of a first embodiment of the present invention with dashed lines representing movement of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are included to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention in reviewing the drawings accompanying the specification, a feature list is provided below. It is noted that like features are like numbered throughout all of the figures.

FEATURE TABLE # Feature # Feature 10 EHAA 20 Hammer  20A Hammer (in rotated position) 22 Hammer head  24 Hammer handle 26 Pin reception race  28 Attach flange 30 Mounting bracket  32 End flange 34 Top flange  36 Pin reception flanges 40 Isolators  42 Isolator front side 44 Isolator rear side 50 Hinge pin  60 Pin retention collars 80 EHAA 90 Hammer  90A Hammer (in rotated position) 100 Handle assembly 102 Handle 104 Sleeve reception opening 106 Pin reception race 108 Gusset 110 Gusset 120 Head assembly 122 Hammer head 124 Sleeve 130 Mounting frame 132 Base 134 Foot 136 Foot 138 Screen 140 Attach flange 142 Pin reception hole 144 Attach flange 146 Pin reception hole 150 Isolators 152 Isolator outboard side 154 Isolator inboard side 160 Hinge pin 170 Pin retention collars

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3, a first embodiment of the invention is an excavator hammer apparatus (EHAA) 10 expressly adapted for mounting to an excavator arm comprising a hammer 20, a mounting bracket 30, isolators 40, a hinge pin 50, and a pin retention collars 60. Hammer 20 preferably defines a single steel weldment (multiple discrete components or pieces welded together to form a single welded structure) hammer having a hammer head 22, a hammer handle 24, a pin reception race 26, and an attachment flange 28. Hammer head 22 is welded to a first end of hammer handle 24, attachment flange 28 is welded to a second end of hammer handle 24, and pin reception race 26 is welded to hammer handle 24 near the second end of hammer handle 24. Hammer head 22 preferably defines a generally cylindrically shaped head preferably having a diameter of approximately 8 inches, a length of approximately 18 inches, and a mass of approximately 200 pounds, but may be larger and have a greater mass or may be smaller and have a lesser mass. Hammer handle 24 preferably defines a generally elongated cubic shaped handle preferably having a width of approximately 3 inches, a height of approximately 6 inches, a length of approximately 52 inches, and a mass of approximately 250 pounds, but may be larger and have a greater mass or may be smaller and have a lesser mass. Mounting bracket 30 preferably defines a single steel weldment bracket forming a general “L” shape having an end flange 32, a top flange 34, and pin reception flanges 36. End flange 32 is welded to top flange 34 and pin reception flanges 36 are welded to top flange 34. Isolators 40 define substantially cubic shaped blocks preferably formed of rubber or like durable elastomeric material, having front sides 42 and rear sides 44. Hinge pin 50 defines a substantially cylindrical shaped steel hinge pin. Pin retention collars 60 define preferably steel collars capable of securing a hinge pin such that the pin is able to rotate but remains fixed in an axial or side-to-side direction.

EHAA 10 is assembled such that front sides 42 of isolators 40 are fastened to attachment flange 28 of hammer 20, rear sides 44 of isolators 40 are fastened to end flange 32 of mounting bracket 30, hinge pin 50 is rotatably inserted into pin reception flanges 36 of mounting bracket 30 and pin reception race 26 of hammer 20, and pin retention collars 60 are secured to the ends of hinge pin 50 such that EHAA 10 is capable of controlled rotation or pivoting of hammer 20 relative to mounting bracket 30 about hinge pin 50 by means of flexure of isolators 40 as shown in FIG. 3.

In practice, EHAA 10 is mounted to an excavator arm (e.g. in place of a convention bucket of an excavator) by fastening top flange 34 of mounting bracket 30 to the excavator arm. It is noted that a quick coupler may be optionally used in mounting EHAA 10 to an excavator arm. It is further noted that EHAA 10 is preferably used in combination with an excavator of approximately 11,000 pounds and having an engine of approximately 42 horsepower, but may be used with a large or smaller excavator. Further in practice, with EHAA 10 mounted to an excavator arm, EHAA 10 is wielded by the arm of the excavator (somewhat similar to a man wielding a sledge hammer) to breakup concrete, to drive piles, and to perform other generally large scale hammering operations. It is noted that flexure of isolators 40 allows controlled rotation of hammer 20 such that hammer 20 may be moved by the excavator arm to just short of the target (e.g. concrete to be broken), and by means of kinetic energy, hammer 20 will rotate in a controlled method and strike the target and demolish the target. It is further noted that such hammering is able to be performed with minimal shock to the excavator (and consequently the excavator operator), with reduced noise, and without the danger of pieces of broken spring becoming projectiles and causing injury. It is further noted that given the length of hammer handle 24, not only is accurate hammering able to be performed with minimal risk of damage to the excavator, but significant mechanical advantage is realized when swinging EHAA 10.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 4 through 6, a second embodiment of the invention is an excavator hammer apparatus (EHAA) 80 expressly adapted for mounting to a skid-steer loader arm comprising a hammer 90, a mounting frame 130, isolators 150, a hinge pin 160, and a pin retention collars 170. Hammer 90 preferably defines a mechanical assembly of handle assembly 100 and head assembly 120. Handle assembly 100 preferably defines a single steel weldment having a handle 102 having a sleeve reception opening 104 on a first end, a pin reception race 106, a gusset 108, and a gusset 110. Gusset 108 is welded to a first side of handle 102, gusset 110 is welded to a second side of handle 102, and pin reception race 106 is welded to handle 102 near a second end of handle 102. Head assembly 120 preferably defines a single steel weldment having a hammer head 122 and a sleeve 124. Sleeve 124 is welded to a first side of head 122. Hammer 90 is assembled such that sleeve 124 of head assembly 120 is fastened to sleeve reception opening 104 of handle assembly 100. It is noted that EHAA 80 is adapted such that various heads of various size, shape and mass may be substituted for head assembly 120. Hammer head 122 preferably defines a generally cylindrically shaped head preferably having a diameter of approximately 8 inches, a length of approximately 18 inches, and a mass of approximately 200 pounds, but may be larger and have a greater mass or may be smaller and have a lesser mass. Hammer handle 102 preferably defines a generally elongated cubic shaped handle preferably having a width of approximately 3 inches, a height of approximately 6 inches, a length of approximately 52 inches, and a mass of approximately 250 pounds, but may be larger and have a greater mass or may be smaller and have a lesser mass. Mounting frame 130 preferably defines a single steel weldment frame having a base 132 having a first foot 134 and a second foot 136, a screen 138, an attach flange 140 having a pin reception hole 142, and an attach flange 144 having a pin reception hole 146. Screen 138, attach flange 140, and attach flange 144 are welded to base 132. Isolators 150 define generally flanged cylindrical shaped blocks preferably formed of rubber or like durable elastomeric material, having outboard sides 152 and inboard sides 154. Hinge pin 160 defines a substantially cylindrical shaped steel hinge pin. Pin retention collars 170 define preferably steel collars capable of securing a hinge pin such that the pin is able to rotate but remains fixed in an axial or side-to-side direction.

EHAA 80 is assembled such that inboard sides 154 of a first pair of isolators 150 are fastened to a gusset 108 of hammer 90, inboard sides 154 of a second pair of isolators 150 are fastened to a gusset 110 of hammer 90, outboard sides 152 of a first pair of isolators 150 are fastened to attach flange 140 of mounting frame 130, outboard sides 152 of a second pair of isolators 150 are fastened to attach flange 144 of mounting frame 130, hinge pin 160 is rotatably inserted into pin reception holes 142 and 146 of mounting frame 130 and pin reception race 106 of hammer 90, and pin retention collars 170 are secured to the ends of hinge pin 1650 such that EHAA 810 is capable of controlled rotation or pivoting of hammer 90 relative to mounting frame 130 about hinge pin 1650 by means of flexure of isolators 150 as shown in FIG. 6.

In practice, EHAA 80 is mounted to a skid-steer loader arm (e.g. in place of a convention bucket of a skid-steer loader) by fastening base 132 of mounting frame 130 to the skid-steer loader arm. It is noted that a quick coupler may be optionally used in mounting EHAA 80 to a skid-steer loader arm. It is further noted that EHAA 80 is preferably used in combination with a skid-steer loader of approximately 6,000 pounds and having an engine of approximately 35 horsepower, but may be used with a large or smaller a skid-steer loader. Further in practice, with EHAA 80 mounted to a skid-steer loader, EHAA 80 is wielded by the arm of the skid-steer loader (somewhat similar to a man wielding a sledge hammer) to breakup concrete, to drive piles, and to perform other generally large scale hammering operations. It is noted that flexure of isolators 150 allows controlled rotation of hammer 90 such that hammer 90 may be moved by the a skid-steer loader arm to just short of the target (e.g. concrete to be broken), and by means of kinetic energy, hammer 90 will rotate in a controlled method and strike the target and demolish the target. It is further noted that such hammering, especially in light of screen 138, is able to be performed with minimal shock to the excavator (and consequently the excavator operator), with reduced noise, and without the danger of pieces of broken spring becoming projectiles and causing injury. It is further noted that given the length of hammer handle 102, not only is accurate hammering able to be performed with minimal risk of damage to the excavator, but significant mechanical advantage is realized when swinging EHAA 80.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

I claim:
 1. A excavator attachment apparatus for use in demolishing concrete and like objects by attaching said apparatus to an excavator arm and swinging said apparatus into said concrete or like object, said apparatus comprising a hammer device and a mount bracket, wherein said hammer device is connected to said mount bracket by a pivotable hinge joint and by at least one flexible elastomeric member.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mount bracket is connected to an arm of at least one of an excavator and a skid-steer loader.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hammer defines a single weldment.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wherein said apparatus has a mass of at least one of 200 pounds, 350 pounds, 500 pounds, 750 pounds, 1,000 pounds, 1,500 pounds, 2,000 pounds, 3,000 pounds, and 5,000 pounds.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hammer includes a hammer head, and wherein said hammer is adapted such that said hammer head is readily replaceable with an alternate hammer head.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flexible elastomeric member defines a rubber isolator.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mount bracket includes a protective screen connected thereto.
 8. A excavator attachment apparatus for use in demolishing concrete and like objects by attaching said apparatus to an excavator arm and swinging said apparatus into said concrete or like object, said apparatus comprising a hammer device and a mount bracket, wherein said hammer device is connected to said mount bracket by a pivotable hinge joint and by at least one flexible elastomeric member, and wherein said mount bracket is connected to an arm of at least one of an excavator and a skid-steer loader.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said hammer defines a single weldment.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said wherein said apparatus has a mass of at least one of 200 pounds, 350 pounds, 500 pounds, 750 pounds, 1,000 pounds, 1,500 pounds, 2,000 pounds, 3,000 pounds, and 5,000 pounds.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said hammer includes a hammer head, and wherein said hammer is adapted such that said hammer head is readily replaceable with an alternate hammer head.
 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said flexible elastomeric member defines a rubber isolator.
 13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said mount bracket includes a protective screen connected thereto.
 14. A excavator attachment apparatus for use in demolishing concrete and like objects by attaching said apparatus to an excavator arm and swinging said apparatus into said concrete or like object, said apparatus comprising a hammer device and a mount bracket, wherein said hammer device is connected to said mount bracket by pivotable hinge joint and by at least one flexible elastomeric member, and wherein said hammer defines a single weldment, and wherein said apparatus has a mass of at least 200 pounds.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said mount bracket is connected to an arm of at least one of an excavator and a skid-steer loader.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said wherein said apparatus has a mass of at least one of 350 pounds, 500 pounds, 750 pounds, 1,000 pounds, 1,500 pounds, 2,000 pounds, 3,000 pounds, and 5,000 pounds.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said hammer includes a hammer head, and wherein said hammer is adapted such that said hammer head is readily replaceable with an alternate hammer head.
 18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said flexible elastomeric member defines a rubber isolator.
 19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said flexible elastomeric member defines a plurality of flexible elastomeric members, and wherein a first side of each of said flexible elastomeric members is connected to said hammer, and wherein a second side of each of said flexible elastomeric members is connected to said mount bracket.
 20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said mount bracket includes a protective screen connected thereto. 